Honda sets new world record with 150mph lawnmower

Matt Allan

Honda – a car maker famous for performance cars such as the Civic Type R and NSX – has claimed a new world speed record, with a lawnmower.

The Japanese brand’s Mean Mower V2 has officially been named the world’s fastest accelerating lawnmower by Guinness World Records after racing to 100mph in just 6.29 seconds.

That makes it as quick to 100mph as a McLaren F1 and quicker than a Ferrari Enzo or Pagani Zonda.

Superbike performance

The custom-built mower is powered by a 999cc four-cylinder engine taken from Honda’s CBR1000RR Fireblade superbike. Mounted in the Mean Mower V2, it produces 200bhp.

With a dry weight of just 69.1kg, the Mean Mower V2 has a power-to-weight ratio in excess of that of a Bugatti Chiron.

It set the record at Dekra Lausitzring, in Germany, with W Series racing driver Jess Hawkins at the wheel.

Functioning mower

To qualify for the record, the Mean Mower V2 still had to be able to cut grass, and “intrinsically look like a lawnmower” so was fitted with electrically driven carbon fibre mower blades inside a revised cutter deck and used the front cowl, grass box and body panels of the Honda HF 2622 lawn tractor.

As well as setting the 0-100mph time, Honda tested the mower’s top speed, eventually hitting 150.99mph around the Lausitzring track.

Race and stunt driver Jess Hawkins piloted the Mean Mower V2 to the new record.

Dave Hodgetts, managing director of Honda (UK) commented: “The original Mean Mower was an incredible machine; but this time we’ve taken it to a whole new level with version two.

“After taking the top speed record in 2014, we wanted to do something a little different by setting an all-new record for acceleration, and the result is fantastic.

“Team Dynamics have gone above and beyond in developing and building this real feat of engineering, and hats off to Jess for being brave enough to get behind the wheel.”